Just an idea I had...

Joel,

You might want to do a search on Google for "Formula SAE" it is a competition that the SAE does once a year for engineering students to design, build and race a 600cc formula car.

Rob

 

Racecar Engineering ( www.racecarengineering.co.uk ) always does an annual profile of the teams competing. You can lookup back issues and buy them.

 

What a waste of your fathers time and yours.

You will soon get bored and then it will gather dust in the corner of your shed. If you are going to build something (yep great idea) make it so it qualifies for a specific class of racing so you actually have a purpose for it!

The world is littered with unfinished time wasting projects ... the reason, no direction and purpose in the planning of the project. People that get somewhere and complete things, do things for a reason ... not just to muck about, that is what children do

So again, make the car, but for Pete's sake don't do it to just to have something to 'toy' around with ... actually do something with it!

Pete

 

I forgot, SCCA D-Sports racing class would be perfect for you guys:

http://www.racecarengineering.co.uk/content/feature_06.htm

Also check out the rules on the SCCA web site: (It's under DSR)


http://www.scca.com/_Filelibrary/File/2005SportsRacerCategory.pdf

 

I have to agree with the 'don't waste your time' crowd. If you're going to spend time building a car, then spend a little more time researching something that's worthwhile building, be it a race-eligible chassis or perhaps a classic. Don't just weld a bunch of **** together because you've got the time.

 

Since it takes probably about the same effort to build something for a class I would go that route as well.

However having said that, I don't think there is anything wrong with building some spec racer and just take it out to have fun on a track day.

A friend of mine and I have been toying with the idea of getting some older F3000 racecar or something just to have fun with it at a track day. Not doing serious racing (which ends up costing serious time and money and probably lead nowhere), but just lapping. What's wrong with that? I think it'd be a blast nonetheless.

 

Makes perfect sense to me.

I'd go with a pre 1967 F1 or F2 car. Before they had wings. Basically a tube chassis (your welding comes in very handy) and use some suspension parts from off the shelf cars.

The April issue of Forza Magazine has a great article about a Ferrari Dino F2 race car. There is one picture of the car undergoing total restoration where you can see its structure etc. Doing something like that would be great.

 

Something you should consider is attending some SCCA race events. You are free to wander the paddocks and can get a great up-close look at all the different types of cars that are out there, as well as the varying degrees of maintenance each requires. Something I did which you may consider as well is volunteering to crew for somebody. A lot of do-it-yourself racers can always use an extra pair of capable hands, and you meet a lot of great people in the process.

 

I believe there are homebuilts still used in SCCA Solo events. An easy regular SCCA class is Formula Vee. Suspensions are simple; rather than designing a complex wishbone system from scratch. But really, it would be nice for whatever you build to have some value to others when you move on to the next project. I'd check out race car kits.

 

As Tifosi said it costs just as much time and $$'s to make something to a spec series ... and just as much fun to do laps with.

Why should you make it to suit a series?

Well one day you may bore with the idea ... and then guess what, somebody might want to buy it and the fact that it is to a series spec makes it more sellable and thus you may get some $$'s back. Otherwise you will just chuck it away ...

Pete
ps: And yes nothing wrong with doing laps ... but not all racing costs mucho $$'s ... I plan to go karting soon and I will be entering a series, but on a very tight budget. Over the months/years I (you?) will build up the spares and the knowledge (which saves mucho $$'s) ... and see if I can win something to.

I personally find I bore of just doing laps quickly (usually have the car as fast as it will go in 3-5 laps) ... heck I can do laps in any old car ... but that is just me .

 

You might want to check out the chasis structure of a late 70's or early 80's Formula Ford. The cars were not too complex and performed well.

 

With limited funds, the best bang for your buck is a go-kart.
JMHO

 

I've been out of the game for many years, but it seems to me that SCCA has gotten way too political, with BMW and Porsche etc jockeying for rules to favor one car over another, and classes springing up to let one mfr get it's name to the front of the class standings. (Such is the quest for media coverage.)

Back in the stone age, we were just out for a fun day with a little performance driving. (And no press coverage at all.)

And, basically, that's where the classic motor sports came from. The Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, etc, were car owners getting together for "a fine day out": good cars, good fun, good friends.

"The suits" have turned it into a business, and took away a lot of the fun.

I think that's where a lot of street racers are coming from. Someone who drops $50K into a paint job could cough up the track fees for track racing -- but they aren't building to "a spec" to race against.

Personally, I think we need to get more of this "just for fun" racing back onto the track.
Where else is the next Carrol Shelby going to come from?